Male pedipalp morphology and copulatory mechanism in Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin, 1775) (Araneae, Pholcidae)

Abstract

Summary Male pedipalps of Pholcus phalangioides are morphologically investigated, mating behaviour in this species is described and results on the copulatory mechanism are presented. With the aid of cryofixation and subsequent freeze substitution, pairs were fixed in copula and serially sectioned or investigated with SEM methods. Previous views of the coupling mechanism are corrected: during initial coupling the male locks the sclerotised hook of the female epigyne between two apophyses that are situated on the male chelicerae, and during genital coupling (insertion) the embolus, the appendix, the tip of the uncus and the massive procursus are intromitted into the female. Pedipalp movement during genital coupling results in an extrusion from the female genitalia of material comprising female secretion, spermatozoa and male secretions. Possible correlations between genital morphology and female choice as well as sperm competition are briefly discussed.